Al-Musalla Square in Madinah: Three Historic Mosques to Find on the Map

Look for Al-Ghamamah Mosque first. It stands by Madinah's historic prayer grounds, southwest of the Prophet's Mosque. Two more names sit close by on the courtyard map: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and Ali ibn Abi Talib. The trick to finding them is to turn your usual sense of direction upside down. On this particular map, south is at the top.

Plan your Madinah stay: hotels on Trip.com, Hotels.com or Agoda | Madinah tours on GetYourGuide or Klook | a Saudi eSIM from Airalo

How to find the three mosques on the map

Open the English map of the Prophet's Mosque and its courtyards (PDF), hosted by the Council of British Hajjis. Keep the whole page in view for a moment:

1. Find the compass on the left, under "Qiblah". The letters put south at the top and west on the right. Now look for "Southern Courtyard" across the top of the big central building.
2. Zoom in on the upper-right corner, beside Quba Avenue. The first of the three small mosque symbols is labelled "Al-Ghamama Mosque". The extra "h" in Al-Ghamamah on the city's website is just a difference in English spelling.
3. Read down the page. You'll come to Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, then Ali ibn Abi Talib, just above the label for As-Salam Road. Down the page means north here. That sequence is a way to read the diagram, not a set of walking directions.

If you save one image to share with family, keep both Quba Avenue and the three mosque names in the frame. Three pins labelled "mosque" are much harder to tell apart later.

What makes Al-Musalla Square special?

Al-Musalla was a prayer ground. The Saudi Press Agency's account of the square (21 March 2025) describes the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions gathering here for Eid prayers and to pray for rain. The buildings visible today came later. Each gives you a different way to recognise the place.

Three landmarks around the prayer grounds

Mosque	A detail to look for
Al-Ghamamah مسجد الغمامة	Look at the roofline in the Saudi Pilgrim Experience Program's feature. Several domes and a minaret rise above basalt stone walls. The city guide associates this spot with both Eid and prayers for rain.
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq مسجد أبي بكر الصديق	Here the eye goes to one large dome over a square prayer hall. Saudipedia describes its carved black basalt. The mosque takes its name from the first caliph, Abu Bakr, who led Eid prayer at this spot.
Ali ibn Abi Talib مسجد علي بن أبي طالب	Find its symbol just above As-Salam Road. The city guide links this prayer ground with Eid and names the Prophet's son-in-law, Ali. Nusuk's account explains that the mosque you see in photographs has been rebuilt several times.

What the map can tell you about your hotel stay

The city guide puts Al-Ghamamah about 200 metres from the Prophet's Mosque courtyards and Abu Bakr about 150 metres from them. Both distances start at the courtyards. Subtracting one from the other won't tell you how far apart the two mosques are, and neither figure measures the walk from a hotel reception.

Compare the same property on Hotels.com and Agoda using its full name. If a short or step-free return matters, ask the hotel one precise question: "Coming from Al-Ghamamah, which street entrance takes us to reception without steps?" Mark that entrance on your own map. TravAir's guide to the official Haramain maps explains how to check the mosque side of the journey. For more places to read about, start with our Madinah ziyarat guide.

You can also compare Madinah hotels on Trip.com and Expedia. If you would like someone to explain the history on the spot, look at Madinah tours on GetYourGuide and Klook, and check that the listing names the mosques by Al-Musalla Square before you book.

Questions families ask about the square

Can we count on seeing inside Al-Ghamamah?

Don't plan around a particular opening time. The city guide lists 24 hours, while the Visit Saudi listing, last updated 21 May 2025, gives 10am to midnight. Neither establishes when the prayer hall itself will be accessible. The exterior photographs are enough to spot the domes.

Is the Abu Bakr doorway the same as Abu Bakr Mosque?

No. The Saudi Press Agency's 2 March 2026 feature describes Khawkhat Abu Bakr, a historic doorway in the Prophet's Mosque. For the separate mosque by the square, search for the full name "Abu Bakr As-Siddiq Mosque" and check that Al-Ghamamah is its neighbour.

What's a good way to explore it with children at home?

Give one person the map and another the photographs of the square. Ask the first to find Al-Ghamamah without rotating the page. Ask the second to spot the difference between its roof and Abu Bakr's large dome. Then swap: can either person find the third mosque using just the road name?